The aim was to elucidate the effects of short-term, high protein diet
on ovarian activity and metabolic status in synchronized Ossimi ewes.
Fourteen Ossimi ewes divided into a high protein (HPG; n = 7) and
a control group (CG; n = 7). Estrous synchronized using two doses of
Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) that were administered 10 days apart. For
the five days before the second dose of PGF2-α, a high protein diet
consisting of 20% crude protein was fed to the HPG and the CG was
provided a maintenance diet. The estrus period was significantly
longer and the ovulation rate was significantly higher in the HPG as
compared to the CG (P < 0.05). A significantly longer ovulation time
and larger diameter ovulatory follicles were observed in the HPG (P <
0.05). A high protein diet had a significant effect on the number of
recruited follicles and the diameter of the ovulatory follicle (P < 0.05).
Significantly higher levels of estradiaol-17β, total protein, albumin,
total cholesterol, blood urea, and glucose detected in the HPG as
compared to CG ewes (P < 0.05). It is concluded that short-term, high
protein flushing may improve estrus expression, ovarian activity, and
metabolic status in PGF2α analog synchronized Ossimi ewes.